Four professors discuss the origins of science fiction, its overlap with other genres and its developments over more than a century.

Neal Stephenson

Neal Stephenson is the best-selling author of such novels as Snow Crash, The Diamond Age, Cryptonomicon, and The Baroque Cycle.
He is best know for writing science fiction (in the postcyberpunk genre) and his interests often lead him into investigations of society, mathematics, cryptology, currency and the history of science.

Postcyberpunk writer Neal Stephenson explains why he believes science fiction actors such as Leonard Nimoy, Lucy Lawless, and Sigourney Weaver develop bifurcated acting careers that in science fiction circles rise to cult status, but in the mainstream are character actors or get no work at all.